It turned out that the climate helped the development of Islam: scientists told how it happened

Researchers analyzed layers of stalagmite from the Al Khuta cave, which is located in Oman. Speed

The growth of the stalagmite and the chemical composition of its layers are directly related to the amount of precipitation that fell near the cave. Therefore, you can learn more about the climate by its shape and isotopic composition. 

The team said that even with the naked eyeit can be seen that there was a very dry period that lasted several decades. When less water drips onto the stalagmite, less of it runs down the sides. The stone increases, but its diameter decreases.

The team wondered if there was a correlationbetween this drought and the decline of the Himyarite kingdom, or only after. The researchers analyzed other climate reconstructions in the region and studied historical sources.

Political unrest in the kingdom, the war between its northern neighbors - the Byzantine and Sasanian empires, spreading to Himyar, further weakened the kingdom. 

According to researchers, the fact that changesclimate change can lead to the destabilization of states, is often ignored. The population experienced great hardships as a result of famine and war, so there was fertile ground for Islam. People were looking for a new hope - something that could unite them again.

This does not mean that the drought directly led to the emergence of Islam, the authors emphasize, but it was an important factor.

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